Content about food production

Companion animals use antimicrobials and can be impacted by resistance. Dr. Bender suggests that clinicians need to be aware and encourage good antimicrobial stewardship practices.

Dr. Jeff Bender, Chair for the AVMA Task Force for Antimicrobial Stewardship in companion Animal Practice, provides an overview of antimicrobial resistance in companion animals and what kinds of stewardship approaches are being implemented. Dr. Bender suggests that clinicians need to be aware and encourage good antimicrobial stewardship practices.

“We are all connected by the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.” says Dr. Tom Friedan, CDC Director. Dr. Chiller emphasizes that antimicrobial resistance is a global problem and needs global solutions.

Dr. Tom Chiller, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opens his presentation with a quote from Dr. Tom Friedan, CDC Director, that brings focus to antimicrobial resistance: “We are all connected by the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.” Dr. Chiller emphasizes that antimicrobial resistance is a global problem and needs global solutions. These solutions need continual communication, consistent monitoring and reporting, and response teams to take action.

What is the US FDA's strategy on the use of important antibiotics in food producing animals? Dr. Flynn mentions that all uses of antibiotics are contributing to resistance issues and that any conversation and solution set must take this wide use into consideration.

Dr. William Flynn, Deputy Director for Science Policy, Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine, provides an update on the US FDA's strategy on the use of important antibiotics in food producing animals and its effect on FDA Guidance #213. Dr. Flynn mentions that all uses of antibiotics are contributing to resistance issues and that any conversation and solution set must take this wide use into consideration. Collaborative approaches are going be much more effective if everyone is at the table and working in the same direction.

Consumers pay attention when they hear "antibiotic resistance". Images of killer bacteria and the real possibility that medicines will stop working are on their mind. What are some of the policy and science conversations occurring across the world on antibiotic use?

Consumers are concerned about antibiotic resistance and are demanding action from farmers and ranchers. Physicians worry that antibiotic over use in human health will also be impacted. To help understand the issues, researchers and experts from all aspects of human and animal health came together to continue the dialog and make plans for change around the use of antibiotics.

The conversations about world food production and harvesting the world biosphere to support the population is gaining attention of influential people.

"Where's the Beef" took on a new meaning when a petri dish of beef, grown from bovine stem cells, was grilled and served up during an internationally televised event [blog]. This media sensation does have some interesting angles for those in agriculture. The metrics on meat production from the World Health Organization (WHO) and statements from the U.N.

Everyone eats food and has a high expectation that they will not get sick. September is National Food Safety Month, mainly reminding you what you should do all year long: wash hands and use thermometers when cooking meat.

You all use thermometers while you cook your beef, pork, and chicken - Right? And you do wash those hands before making breakfast, lunch, and dinner - Right?

September is National Food Safety Month (http://www.foodsafetymonth.com/ ) and there are lots of resources to help remind and educate people young and old about the need for practicing food safety.

Without global markets, there is a risk of food distribution being disrupted.

Markets exist to help smooth the flow of information and make the future more predictable. But sometimes it takes a Ph.D. to figure out what is going on when corn goes above $8 and you are sitting on several thousand bushels.

David Schmidt, International Food Information Council, highlights the current environment in which consumer / food relationships exist: processed foods are perceived socially, politically, and economically bad; obesity epidemic factors are negative toward food producers; and communication around processed foods are not clear or consistent. From the 2011 Annual Conference of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, April 11 - 14, San Antonio, TX USA.